1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa State Nigeria.2Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa State Nigeria.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a result of occupational exposure, health care personnel and medical students are at risk of acquiring HBV infection, and many authorities recommend vaccination. Unfortunately, significant proportions of health care workers do not receive HBV immunization, and remain susceptible to HBV infection. A study was carried out at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) to determine the hepatitis B vaccination rate among medical students and to determine their knowledge of HBV infection. Seventy eight medical students at NDUTH completed Self-administered questionnaires which included questions about demographic characteristics, HBV vaccination status, knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine and reasons for not receiving the vaccine. All (100%) of the respondents had heard of hepatitis B vaccine. Sixty eight (87.2%) of them thought they were at risk of acquiring hepatitis. Forty one (52.6%) had received at least one dose of hepatitis B vaccine while 37 (47.4%) had never received the vaccine. Fifteen of the respondents had received 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, giving a vaccination rate of 19.2%. Fourteen (17.9%) had received 2 doses, while 12 (15.4%) had received one dose. The hepatitis B vaccination rate among medical students at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital is low. Adequate funding by the Government is needed for HBV vaccination and legislation at both the National and Institutional level, need to be introduced for adult vaccination against HBV infection, especially for those at high risk.